Racetrack protective device



Nov. 22, 1960 w. A. MURPHY 2,960,964

RACETRACK PROTECTIVE DEVICE Filed Sept. 26, 1958 INVENTOR.

MLA/AM ,4- MURPHY RACETRACK PROTECTIVE DEVICE William A. Murphy, 909Bryant Ave., New Hyde Park, N.Y.

Filed Sept. 26, 1958, Ser. No. 763,684

6 Claims. (Cl. 119-155) J This invention relates generally to racetracks, and is especially concerned with a novel device for protectingrace track running surfaces during practice use thereof.

As is well known, the inner region of the track surface is subject tothe most use and resultant wear, by

the natural tendency of horse and rider to seek a position United StateP cumbersomeand inconvenient for the track operating personnel, and moreimportant, these obstacles are dangerous in that the horses ankles orlegs are likely to be injured by striking the obstacles.

. It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide ahighly improved device for use in conjunction with race tracks whicheffectively protect the inner region of the running surface along theinner rail during training or practice sessions, without likelihood ofinjury to horses or riders coming in contact with the protectingdevices.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device of thetype described which is adapted for convenient removal, as duringofficial races, and replacement when the track is used for training.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a racetrack protective device having the advantageous characteristicsmentioned in the preceding paragraphs which is extremely simple inconstruction, durable over long periods of use, entirely safe andreliable in operation, and which can be economically manufactured,installed and maintained.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon readingthe following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings,which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which thescope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing part of a race track having protectivedevices of the instant invention employed in conjunction therewith;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially along theline 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing a single protective device of theinstant invention, somewhat enlarged, and partially broken away toconserve space;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view taken from the left side of Fig. 2, butillustrating the protective device removed or apart from the inner railof the track; and

Fig. 5 is an elevational view similar to Fig. 2 showing a device of thepresent invention employed with an innor track rail of the hedge type.

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Patented Nov. 22, 1 960 Referring now more particularly to the drawings,and specifically to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, the running surface of a racetrack is there designated 10, and includes an inner region 11 alongwhich extends an inner track rail, generally designated 12. The rail 12includes a longitudinally extending, generally horizontal top member 13,see Fig. 2, spaced above the surface 11 of the inner track region andcarried by a plurality of spaced :part, depending legs 14 embedded inthe ground surace.

At locations spaced along the rail 12 are a plurality of protectivedevices of the present invention, respectively designated 15, 16 and 17.

One such device 17 is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and in eludes an elongatemember or arm 18 extending generally horizontally outward from the rail12 over the inner' track region 11. The arm 18 is spaced above therunning surface 11 a distance approximately equal to the shoulder heightof a horse. The inner end region 19 of the arm 18 extends closely overthe rail top member 13 and is provided entirely on the inner side of thelatter with arm mounting means 20. The mounting means is constituted ofa generally vertically disposed tubular member or shaft 21 fixed to theinner side of the rail top member 13 and a rail leg 14 by suitablebrackets 22. The fixed tubular member or bushing 21 has its upper endopen for the removable insertion therethrough of a pivot member or rod23 fixed to the inner end region 19 of the arm 18 by a right angleconnectisng piece 24 and dc.- pending generally vertically from theinner arm end. The pivot or rod 23 is rotatably received in the bushing21, and the connecting member 24 slidably abuts the upper end of thebushing, to thereby mount the generally horizontal arm 18 for rotationabout the generally vertical axis of the pivot member 23.

Provided on the outer end of the arm 18, remote from the rail 12, is arelatively soft or yieldable cap member 25 for safe engagement with arunning horse.

The arm 18 is yieldably retained in a position extending outward fromand generally normal to the rail 12 by a pair of resiliently extensilemembers or springs 26 disposed on opposite sides of the arm and eachconnected between the arm and the rail top member 13. More specifically,the arm 18 is provided with a collar 27 fixed to the arm at a locationadjacent to but spaced outward from the rail top member 13. Projectinglaterally outward from the collar or shoulder 27, on opposite sides ofthe arm 18, are a pair of loops or eyes 28, while a pair of loops oreyes 29 are fixed to the rail top member 13, depending from theunderside thereof, on opposite sides of and spaced from the mountingconstruction 20. The resiliently extensile elements or springs 26 eachhas its opposite ends connected between a respective pair of eyes 28 and29 on opposite sides of the arm 18, and cooperate to resiliently urgethe arm to its illustrated position of Fig. 3 extending generally normalto and outward from the rail 12, while permitting the arm to rotateabout the vertical axis of its mounting means 20 upon deflection by apassing horse.

In the embodiment of Fig. 5, a protective device is illustrated which issubstantially identical to the protective device 17 of Figs. 1-4.However, the protective device is employed in conjunction with an innerrail 12a in the form of a hedge. In this embodiment, a post 14a isembedded in the ground and projects upward therefrom within the hedge12a, being provided on its upper end with the fixed cross member or toppiece 13a extending longitudinally of the race course. The mountingstructure 20a of the protective device 17a is secured to the upright 14aand top cross piece 13a in the same manner as in the previouslydescribed embodiment, and the resiliently yieldable extensile elements26a are connected between the arm 18a of the device 17a and the topmember 13a in the same manner as the extensile elements 26. Of course,operation of the protective device 17a is the same as that of theprotective ..de-

vice I7. a v 7 From the foregoing, it is seen that the instant inventionprovides a protective device ifor :the .inner 'o'rJra'iI regions of arace course during practice or'trainingsessions, which .fullyaccomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practicalconditions *of manufacture and use.

Although the presentv invention'has been described in some detail by wayof illustration and example 'for purposes of clarity .ofnnderstanding,it is understoodth'at certain changes and modifications may be madewithin the spirit of the invention and scope of'the appended claims.Other resiliently extensile elements maybe employed in lieu of springs26.

What is claimed is:

I1. In combination, an endless :horse racingtrack, an'inner railextending about said track on the inner side thereof, an am having oneend mounted on said 'rail for free swinging movement about a generallyvertical axis and having its other end projecting transversely from saidinner rail generally horizontally outward over the inner region of saidtrack and terminating short of the outer side of said track, arelatively .soft end piece on said projecting arm end, and resilientlyyieldable means connected to said arm for urging the latter'to itsoutwardly projecting position while permitting swinging movement of saidarm about said axis.

.2. The combination according to claim .1, .said -arm being spaced abovethe track surface approximately shoulder height of a horse.

3. The combination according to claim 1, said end piece comprising a capengaged over the projecting end of saidarm.

4. The combination according to claim 1, said resiliently yieldablemeans comprising a pair of resiliently extensile elements each havingone end connected to said arm at a location spaced from said rail andhaving its other end connected to saidrail on opposite sides of saidarm.

5. In combination, a horse racing track, an inner rail extending alongsaid track, an arm extending transversely outward from said rail oversaid i track, means mounting the inner end of said armTorswing'ing'movement of said arm about-a generally vertical axis,.arelatively soft end piece on the outerend of said arm, and a pairresiliently extensile elements each having one end fixed to said arm ata location spaced from said rail and having its other end connected tosaid rail for resiliently urging said arm to its outwardly extendingposition while permitting swinging movement of said arm about saidgenerally vertical axis.

'6. ThecOmbination according'to claim 5, said mounting means comprising"a generally vertically disposed upwardly opening bushing fixed to'saidrail, and a generally vertically depending-pivotelement fixed to theinner end of said arm and rotatably engaged in said bushing.

References Cited-invtherfile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS673,997 Chapman May 14,1901 1,659,;713 Whalen Feb. 21, "1928 '2,7ll,037"Tallman June '21. 1955 2,731,744 Schnell Jan. 24, 1956 2,770,219 FerrisNov. 13, 1956 2,393,142 Logan July 7,- 1959

